The Vancouver Provincial Courthouse in Canada, the Central Law Courts building in Perth, Australia, and the Wisconsin Courts in the United States are all facing significant issues due to a shortage of court interpreters, leading to courtroom closures and delays in legal proceedings.
In Vancouver, the ongoing shortage of sheriffs has forced the closure of five courtrooms at the Provincial Courthouse. This shortage has been a persistent problem for years, with deputies leaving for other law enforcement positions. The Trial Lawyers Association of BC has called on the government to address this ongoing issue. The closure of courtrooms has had a significant impact, halting a sexual assault sentencing and an extortion case. The situation has been ongoing for over a year, with closures occurring throughout the province. A report from a year ago indicated that deputies were suffering from burnout and considering leaving due to low pay and benefits. The Ministry of Attorney General has stated that 34 sheriffs will graduate next week and another 20 in early July to help alleviate the challenges caused by the shortage. The government is aware of the problem and is actively working on it by increasing the intake for sheriff education at the Justice Institute of B.C. [97f98bdb] [b4dade2d]
Meanwhile, in Perth, the Central Law Courts building has been impacted by flooding, causing chaos on Monday morning. The incident has affected all cases scheduled to be heard at the courthouse on Monday. The Department of Justice has issued a statement regarding the flooding. The flooding at the Central Law Courts building has caused significant disruption and delays in the legal proceedings. [cc7f793b]
In Wisconsin, the courts are also facing a shortage of court interpreters, which is slowing down the delivery of justice. Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow has struggled in the last four weeks with a lack of available interpreters, risking the ability to hold trials. The Wisconsin courts are seeking interpreters for Spanish, American Sign Language, Hmong, and Burmese. In 2013, Waukesha County had 13 languages that needed interpreters, but by 2023, they have dealt with 25 different languages. The courts have had to delay cases or risk them being thrown out due to the lack of qualified interpreters. The Wisconsin Courts are currently recruiting for all language interpreters, with the biggest need being for Spanish. [8728bf9f] [97f98bdb]